The 2014 York Cares Campaign in support of the United Way Toronto officially launched Nov. 4. The goal of this year’s campaign is $200,000. Funds raised will go towards supporting the community programs and initiatives that are part of the United Way. York University’s campaign will run until Nov. 28.
As with previous years, the focus of the York Cares Campaign is participation. On top of a series of campus-wide events, activities and contests, York staff and faculty members each received personalized electronic pledge cards on Nov. 4, which can be used to make a donation to the United Way.
The 2014 campaign celebrated its official kickoff on Nov. 4 with the President’s Pancake Breakfast at which several hundreds of students, staff and faculty were served breakfast by members of the University’s senior leadership team. Guests at the breakfast also had the chance to win 100-level tickets to a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game, courtesy of MBNA.
The York Cares Campaign leadership co-chairs for this year are Jeff O’Hagan, vice-president advancement, and Rhonda Lenton, vice-president academic and provost.
“The York Cares Campaign is symbolic of the tremendous spirit of our students, staff, faculty and alumni, and of York University’s unique commitment to social responsibility,” O’Hagan said. “We at York recognize the ability and responsibility we have to effect real, positive change within our communities. And with a passion for giving back that is evident across the University, I’m excited to see what new heights we can reach with this year’s campaign.”
Campaign organizers are hoping to surpass last year’s impressive result, which raised more than $180,000 in support of the United Way. This year’s campaign also comes on the heels of a successful showing for York at the Toronto CN Tower Stair Climb, where nearly 50 climbers from York University raised some $4,325 for United Way Toronto, well over their
$2,500 goal.
York Cares 2014 will come to a close on Nov. 25 with the Schulich French Toast Breakfast campaign wrap-up event. Final campaign results and the winners of participation prizes will be announced at the Schulich event.
Weekly e-mails outlining upcoming events taking place across the University will be arriving in staff and faculty e-mail.
For more information, visit the 2014 York Cares United Way Campaign website.